Citation

Heshmat S. Yale J. Biol. Med. 2015; 88(3): 333-337.

Affiliation

Associate Professor Emeritus, Adjunct Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

26339218

PMCID

PMC4553655

Abstract

The main idea in this article is that addiction is a consequence of falling victim to decision failures that lead to preference for the addictive behaviors. Addiction is viewed as valuation disease, where the nervous system overvalues cues associated with drugs or drug-taking. Thus, addiction can be viewed as a diminished capacity to choose. Addicted individuals assign lower values to delayed rewards than to immediate ones. The preference for immediate gratification leads to self-control problems. This article highlights a number of motivational forces that can generate self-control failure.

Language: en